Rama R. Marpaung : An Analysis Of Racial Issues In Some Langston Hughes’ Poems, 2010.
his point of view regarding his parents; he used to curse them, but now he writes he could rescind those curses. As it is pictured in these lines of stanza 2:
If I ever cursed my back old mother And wished she were in hell,
I’m sorry for that evil wish And now I wish her well.
In the stanza, Langston Hughes may say that he was probably not raised by both parents. His father died wealthy, symbolized by the “fine big house”,
while his mother died poor, symbolized by the “shack”. But Langston Hughes’s true purpose in revealing his victim status may finally explored when he says that
he wonder where he will die, and asks “being neither White nor Black?” He may reasons that White people always die in fine big houses, and Black people always
died in shacks. As it is pictured in these lines of stanza 3:
My old man died in a fine big house. My ma died in a shack.
I wonder where I’m gonna die, Being neither white nor black?
4.5 Racial Segregation
Langston Hughes tries to convey about racial segregation issue in his poem entitled, I, Too. This poem was written when Langston Hughes in Genoa,
Italy. The poem shows how Black people are treated unequally during the slavery. The “darker brother” Black is waiting for his opportunity to share the table of
freedom with all Americans. The Blacks have black skin and it is used, as the sign
Rama R. Marpaung : An Analysis Of Racial Issues In Some Langston Hughes’ Poems, 2010.
that make them became the law class in society. The Black man was often treated as although they were not human. The Black suffered when the White treated
them as an inferior class. In American society, the Black has been kept in the bottom economic class in the bottom status group and in the most ineffectual
power position. The example of Racial Segregation actions, such as: the Black must eat in different place from the White, the general facilities that provided by
government are differentiated among Blacks and White. But, there are the optimistic statements that they were increasing rapidly
and they become a strong human although the Blacks get bad treatment. As it can be seen in the next lines of stanza 2:
I am the darker brother. They send me to eat in the kitchen
When company comes, But I laugh,
And eat well, And grow strong.
In the next stanza, Hughes conveys the willing and the optimistic feeling of Black. One day, there will be no more racial segregation. Black and White will
eat in the same place and get the same facilities. It can be seen in the next lines of stanza 3:
Tomorrow, Ill be at the table
When company comes. Nobodyll dare
Say to me, Eat in the kitchen,
Then.
Rama R. Marpaung : An Analysis Of Racial Issues In Some Langston Hughes’ Poems, 2010.
Langston Hughes may also want to say that the White could not only see the aspect of Blacks’ badness but also their kindness. So, if the Whites know their
kindness, they will be ashamed. It is stated in these lines of stanza 4: Besides,
Theyll see how beautiful I am And be ashamed--
I, too, am America. Langston Hughes poem entitled “Merry Go-round” also concerns of racial
segregation issue. In the poem, Hughes tells about a Black child in a carnival. He wants to ride a horse of merry go-round but he does not know where his horse. He
has mind set that Blacks and Whites can not sit side by side. As in Down South— his hometown, there is a place in a train named Jim Crow where it is back side of
the train. The Blacks must sit at the place. So, the child is confused where he should sit. As we know, merry go-round shape is round—there is no front and
back.
CHAPTER V CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS
